World

Huge Rallies in Iran Protesting Gaza Blockades

by Rob Walker | December 12, 2008 at 12:21 pm

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Iran's government is deeply involved in protests in the country's capital, Tehran. Thousands of protesters chanted slogans of 'Death to Israel' and 'Death to America', in a rally that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The rallies are protesting the continued blockade of Gaza crossings by Israel, and called for all Islamic states to break diplomatic and economic ties with Israel.

Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad joined the protests and said Israel would soon “fade away”. “The crimes being committed by the Zionist regime [Israel] are happening because it is aware that it has reached the end of the line and will soon fade away from the Earth,” Mehr news agency quoted the President as saying.
Analysts point out that by staging the protests, Iran is sending a message in the region that it has emerged as a genuine champion of Palestinian rights - a position that neighbouring Arab countries had been known for several decades.

Iranians held a protest rally in Tehran on Friday against Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip.
Shouting "down with the U.S." and "down with Israel," the demonstrators marched on streets leading to the Tehran University, in which the weekly Friday prayer ceremony is held.

In a statement, the protesters denounced that "intensification of cruel blockade imposed on Gazans is undoubtedly the offspring of alliance of the United States, Israel and some Arab states betrayal."